SAD,Congress slug it out in kaka ad row

The word kaka translates to a small boy in Punjabi but SAD president and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal is fondly called kakaji by his father’s colleagues and other senior Akali leaders. This has apparently irked the Akalis.

Harpreet Singh Brar,Chairman of the SAD’s Legal Cell,said: “We had given a complaint to the Media Monitoring Committee of chief electoral officer against the Congress on the usage of word kaka in their advertisement campaign. It is slanderous and covert campaign against the Akali Dal leaders. All this campaign is based on the distorted and unverified allegations,thus,it is in clear violation of the Cable and Television Network Rules-1994 and the model code of conduct. These rules state that the advertisement should not offend morality and decency of the subscribers. Their campaign is against the established ethos of morality and decency. Also,another complaint has been filed to block the facebook account of Jeeta and Jaggi.”

The Media Monitoring Committee,in response to the complaint filed by SAD,has asked the Congress to clarify the reference to the word kaka and specify whom was it being referred to? It has also directed that such types of advertisements should not be published or telecast.

In reply to the query,advertising agency Crayons — which is handling the advertisement campaign for the Congress — stated: “With reference to your letter regarding the clarification on the word kaka used in the radio script,we would state that kaka is very generic term used in Punjabi to address young boys or males often with sarcastic connotations. Therefore,sarcastically we are addressing to particular section of younger population of Punjab often related to power holders in the society. They also enjoy the benefits under the aegis of the people in power,taking advantage by enjoying in various business activities making profits out of it.”

“This ultimately leads to corruption and the word kaka has been used humorously as a tool to expose such corrupt elements in our socio-political scenario of Punjab. As directed,we are pulling out the advertisement till it is re-approved,” the letter added.

In another letter,Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee vice-president Laal Singh has told the CEO: “The term kaka is used generally in Punjabi vocabulary and it is not in any reference to any specific person.”

Sources said that in Monday’s meeting of the committee,no decision could be taken on the controversy. While a section of the officers felt that to have a clean campaign,the usage of the word kaka should be stopped immediately,another that there is no problem in this word. Therefore,it is likely that a final decision will taken only in Tuesday’s meeting of the committee.